Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that the club could have made a concrete move for Etienne Capoue in January, but opted to sign David Beckham instead.

Capoue revealed on Monday that he has been in contact with PSG about a potential move to the Parc des Princes, telling beIN Sport that the two parties are "undoubtedly very close" to reaching a deal.

Speaking to the press ahead of PSG's Coupe de France quarter-final away to Evian on Wednesday, Ancelotti appeared to suggest that it was a straight choice between Capoue and Beckham to strengthen their midfield, and that the capital club went for the Englishman because he was a free agent.

"We talked about him (Capoue) in January, but we took Beckham. He was free so was easier to sign," Ancelotti said in comments reported by Le Parisien.

"He is a good player, but we are not talking about him at the moment."

PSG, who have been heavily linked with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in the British press, have been criticised in some quarters for their apparent lack of willing to sign French talent.

However, sporting director Leonardo was quoted by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday as saying that Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery and Yohan Cabaye were all potential targets, and Ancelotti insisted that nationality is of no concern to him when it comes to player recruitment.

"To buy a player, you don't look at their passport," he said. "They are all important players, but there is no obligation to sign Frenchmen.

"Every team is made up of elements of different cultures. All that matters here is that they can speak the language."